MSU Medical School moves intellectual hub to West Michigan

On October 11, dozens of civic, political, medical, and philanthropic leaders gathered at the Van Andel Institute to witness an historic event: the signing of an education and research collaboration agreement between Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine and the Van Andel Institute. MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon and VAI Chairman and CEO David Van Andel signed the agreement supporting a new four-year medical school in Grand Rapids.

“Our lack of a leading university medical school program translates to a lack of intellectual and venture capital that serve as powerful magnets in attracting what we hope is a new life sciences industry to the state,” Van Andel said.

“The Michigan State University West Michigan Medical School will further develop our regional search and our infrastructure, and complement all of the things that are either here today, or, as you can see by all the cranes dotting the landscape, plan to be here in the near future,” he added. “It will create high-paying jobs in academics, medicine and related industries.”

The agreement is effective through 2015, and renewable in five-year terms. It stipulates that MSU will lease office, research, and instructional lab space upon the 2009 completion of the VAI’s 248,000-square-foot expansion.

A search for a location for additional classroom and administrative space will begin upon completion of the contracts between MSU and the other stakeholders—Spectrum Health, Grand Action, GVSU, Saint Mary’s Health Care, and The Right Place, Inc.

Students will arrive in 2008. The full four-year medical school will be in place by 2010.

“Now is the time for execution,” MSU President Simon said. “One of the great things about West Michigan is your capacity to put together ideas with execution to create a bright future. Today MSU and the Van Andel Institute have signed an agreement with each other; more importantly, we have signed a compact with the future.”

Source: Van Andel Institute; Dave Van Andel, Van Andel Institute; Lou Anna K. Simon, Michigan State University

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